Day 1:
Today your tour guide will pick you up at 7:30am, you will drive alongside 160 km of beautiful landscape, full of flora and fauna until the town of Chivay, capital of the Colca Valley. This route features majestic views of the three volcanoes known as Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu, You will stop at the National Reserve of“Pampa Cañahuas” located at 3400m above sea level, where you can observe the wild Vicuñas in its natural habitat, this a great chance for a one in a life time holiday photo. Continuing your trip you will arrive to“Pata Wasi”(Pata=high Wasi=home), here you will have the opportunity to taste the famous coca tea, and many other infusions; this will help to prevent any altitude sickness you may experience.
Your trip continues with a visit to a place called Tocra. Tocra has rich lakes and grass that provides food to a unique collection of migratory birds and hundreds of Llamas and Alpacas. The culture of Tocra shines through with its typical Andean colours on display. Following your visit to Tocra you travel towards Pata Pampa”(Pata=high, Pampa=land), located at 4910m above sea level, a great viewpoint of Peru’s astonishing mountain rage as well as giant volcanos such as Ampato, Sabancaya, Mismi(the source of the Amazon River).
Your next stop will be the village of Chivay, the capital of the Colca Valley, where you have the opportunity to enjoy many different types of Peruvian cuisine(Lunch is not included). Then you will drive a further 15 minutes to the non-touristic village of Yanque, you will arrive to your hotel where you will experience the wonderful hospitality of the locals. Yanque village offers you an inside perspective of the Colca traditions. In the afternoon your local tour guide will take you for a 2hour hike. The trail features typical Colca homes, terraces, local activities at colca farms and the archaeological site of Uyo Uyo, at the end of the hike you will have the option of enjoying and relaxing in the 35 degrees hotspring pools located next to the Colca River. You will then return to your hotel where you will enjoy a delicious home made dinner.
Day 2:
At 7:00am you will depart from Yanque Village in our comfortable transport towards the highest part of the Canyon, known as the Cross of Condor. This is where the Andean Condor, one of the world’s largest flying bird offers a truly breath taking show for all visitors, it is important to be as early as possible in order not to miss the spectacular nature show. You will remain here for 1 hour or you will have the option to join your tour guide for a short hike along the edge of the canyon (45m mild hike). This enjoyable trek is for everyone and will offer you spectacular dropping views of the canyon walls. You will then meet your transport and make your trip back to Chivay making some unique stops to take memorable photos of the Colca Canyon with its outstanding pre-Inca terraces along the valley. You will arrive to Chivay for lunch and then travel back to Arequipa city. Our estimated time of arrival in Arequipa will be 5pm.
